Ready to go

We've just received news from Briton Ben Saunders who is now ready to go for his solo speed record to the North Pole.

Here is the mail Ben has sent us this morning from Resolute, North Canada.

"Hello everyone, A quick note to let you all know that in 24 hours' time I'll be heading solo and unsupported to the North Pole, with the aim of setting a speed record in the process. As daft challenges go, this is a big one: only two people in history have reached the Pole solo and unsupported (i.e. with no airdrops of food en route) and the most recent was eight years ago.

I'm in Resolute Bay at the moment (in northern Canada, 500 miles above the Arctic Circle) and will fly to my start point at Cape Discovery tomorrow morning. You can follow my progress at http://bensaunders.com/ or in real time via Twitter (once I've started skiing) at http://twitter.com/polarben.

Many of you have played a part in getting me this far, and I'm humbled and grateful for all the help I've had along the way. I also owe large numbers of you an apology for a prolonged radio silence, and for my absence from weddings, christenings, birthday parties, dinner parties, bike rides, brunches, picnics, nights out and get-togethers. This has been a camping trip that's taken quite some organising.

I hope life's good in your world, and that you have the chance to follow me over the next few weeks. Best wishes, Ben"